Julius Caesar Essay

Betrayal By FriendsJulius Caesar once wrote, “Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt” (Caesar, Book III, Ch. 18), which means, “Men willingly believe what they wish” (Ramage, 442). This is apparent in the play Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. The conspirators who assassinated Julius Caesar convinced themselves that killing Caesar was necessary for multiple yet individual reasons. Cassius, the lead conspirator and instigator, convinces himself that Caesar is not better than he and should not be allowed to rule. Brutus allowed himself to be convinced by Cassius that Caesar needed to die for the greater good of Rome. The remaining senators who took part in the conspiracy also allowed themselves to be misguided by Cassius into believing Caesar should die for the greater good of Rome. In this play all of these men let themselves believe Julius Caesar had to be killed, proving Caesar’s proclamation to be true. Each of the men involved in the conspiracy were motivated to take part in Caesar’s death by different reasons. The conspiracy that ultimately lead to Julius Caesar’s death was motivated by a variety of personal, political, and philosophical motives. Cassius’ personal issues with Julius Caesar played a significant role in the conspiracy of Caesar’s assassination. Without Cassius’s severe jealousy of Caesar’s status, the assassination would not have been implemented. Cassius’ personal feelings towards Caesar are clear when he says, “I was born free as Caesar. So were you. We both have fed as well, and we can both endure the winter’s cold as well as he” (Shakespeare, 21). Cassius is saying that he and Caesar is no different, therefore Caesar is not better than him. Cassius makes his feelings about Caesar more apparent when he asks, “Brutus and Caesar- what should be in that “Caesar”? Why should that name be sounded more than yours? Write them together, yours is a fair a name. Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well. Weight them, it is as...